Cleaning the Environment with Iron Nanoparticles

Roland Piquepaille writes "In "Nanoscale Iron Could Help Cleanse the Environment," the National Science Foundation (NSF) reports that "nanoscale" powder made from iron could be used to clean contaminated soil and water. "Iron's cleansing power stems from the simple fact that it rusts. When metallic iron oxidizes in the presence of contaminants, these organic molecules get caught up in the reactions and broken down into simple carbon compounds that are far less toxic." Using this technology, cleaning landfills or industrial sites would cost about $5 per square meter. More details are available in this summary, including other links and a diagram showing how the method works."

Comments

Re:While this is a step in the right direction...

[El]

Iron oxide occurs naturally. People have been cooking with iron frying pans for years, and studies show it's actually good for you in trace amounts. Eating an entire frying pan in one sitting, however, is most likely bad for you.

$5 per m^2

[pbox]

That comes out to $INF per m^3. Too bad...

What kind of whacky measurement is this? Waste is (last time I checked) three (!!!) dimensional.

Is anyone else thinking thermite?

[Anonymous Coward]

OK, so all we gotta do is take our nanoscale iron, let it rust into nanoscale rust.

Mix in a percentage of nanoscale aluminium.

Light a nanoscale match and WHOA!!! The quickest burning 7000 degree thermite I can think of.

mmmmm..... thermite.....